Maimonides Health has introduced expanded mental health services designed for Spanish-speaking New Yorkers, aiming to address longstanding gaps in culturally responsive care. Language barriers and cultural differences have historically limited access to mental health resources for the Hispanic and Latino communities, further challenged by the stigma often associated with seeking such help.
The new outpatient program, La Clínica at Maimonides Health, focuses on providing a supportive environment for Latino and Hispanic adults and children. The team consists of 14 providers—including psychiatrists, therapists, and case managers—most of whom identify as Hispanic or Latino. All staff members speak Spanish and offer all services in the language. Therapy groups are available specifically for women and men.
“I’ve seen on countless occasions the difference it makes to have a provider who can understand and appreciate the role of things like religion, family, immigration trauma, etc.,” said Bárbara Trejo-Ortega, MD, Attending Psychiatrist at Maimonides Health and Director of La Clínica. “Patients tell us nearly every day that they feel seen, understood, and even free to share jokes and food.”
In the past year alone, between 600 and 700 Spanish-speaking patients accessed outpatient psychiatry services at Maimonides for conditions such as anxiety and depression. This number increases when including individuals referred from other specialties or through emergency visits.
La Clínica is part of a broader strategy by Maimonides Health to expand mental health offerings across Brooklyn. In July 2025, a new Psychiatric Emergency Department was opened—nearly quadrupling previous capacity—and enhancing privacy for patients and families. Additional initiatives underway include developing Southern Brooklyn’s first Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program as well as an Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatric Unit.
In 2025, Maimonides received recognition from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) as Brooklyn’s first Stigma-Free Zone.
“At Maimonides, we are deeply committed to meeting the diverse mental health needs of our community,” said Abraham M. Taub, MD, Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Maimonides Health. “Through innovative programs like La Clínica, we’re expanding culturally responsive, language-accessible services for our patients and leading access to high-quality mental health care in Brooklyn.”
